If you've been spending your days working from home recently, you've probably realised that, unsurprisingly, your living room just isn't set up for it properly. As we may be working this way for quite some time, it really is worth carving out a decent space to make it as easy as possible to continue to be productive while on lockdown. Decluttering, getting plenty of light and ensuring you have a comfy chair are all important for staying sane during these strange times. We've rounded up some of our picks of the best home office ideas to revamp your workspace and get you through the quarantine with as little fuss as possible.
Tidy up your desk
Right now, you'll probably have considerably more bits and pieces sprawling around your desk then you normally would. Keep wires and extension leads concealed with a cable tidy and store papers and pens in organisers. If you'd usually use a monitor at work, but are now swapping to your laptop, ensure you don't hurt your neck by raising it on a stand.
Paperchase Kraft 4 drawer desk unit
House by John Lewis Desk Tidy
House by John Lewis Letter Rack, Rose Gold
Made Cubic desk organiser
Wa-Very Bamboo Desk Organiser
mDesign Office Supplies Desk Organiser
Ikea SIGFINN monitor stand
AmazonBasics Metal Monitor Stand
Illuminate your space
Home offices are usually the smallest room in the house, lacking large windows to let the sun stream in, so they tend not to get an abundance of natural light. Instead, use a task light when you're working to ensure you don't strain your eyes.
Made Bronx Table Lamp
John Lewis The Basics Brandon Task Lamp
Dunelm Lever Arm Table Lamp
Oliver Bonas Munari Table Lamp
Dunelm Sivas Black Leaning Wire Mini Task Lamp
Made Albert table light
Upgrade your workspace
A new piece of furniture is a definite investment, but if you'd been putting off kitting out your home office with a swanky new chair and desk, now's the time to make your move. There are plenty of sales on right now too – take advantage of 20% off at Made and the impressive discounts of up to 70% at La Redoute.
Made Leonie desk
LA REDOUTE INTERIEURS JIMI 1 Drawer Desk
Sklum Yneh Desk
Maisons Du Monde White Vintage Corner Desk
LA REDOUTE INTERIEURS Colas Vintage Pine Console Desk
Get comfy
A good desk chair is really important for maintaining proper posture and preventing aches and pains, but you probably don't want an ultra-functional style-chair for your chic home office. Luckily, there are plenty of stylish, modern chairs available, so you can deck out your room properly while still being able to work comfortably.
Made Stanley Frame Carver chair
Made Keira Office Chair
John Lewis & Partners Soren Office Chair
House by John Lewis Whistler Office Chair
Argos Home Nori Fabric Office Chair
Habitat Malpas Brown Faux Leather Upholstered Office Chair
Wayfair Acushnet Office Chair
Keep your things neat
Don't keep piles of papers or files on your kitchen worktop or your dining room table – store them separately on a bookshelf or storage unit. That will help keep your home and work life as distinct as possible.
Wayfair Tenzo Bookcase
Versanora Kingston Bookcase
Maisons Du Monde Multicoloured Bookcase
Swoon Balhem shelving unit
Matalan Round Storage Basket
H&M Folding basket
Anthropologie Set of 3 Bamboo Storage Basket
House by John Lewis Grey Felt Storage Box, Medium
Bring the outside in
Don't stop once you've got the basics sorted – adding some plants into this space can add a welcome splash of colour and boost your mood, especially as the outside is essentially off-limits right now. Finish off the look with a vibrant pot or a basket to bring in some more texture to your space.
YouGarden Yucca 2 stem
Primrose 3ft Dracaena deremensis
Primrose Fern Starter Collection By Plant Theory | 3x 9cm Pots
H&M Porcelain plant pot
Bloombox Club Sea saucer pot
Bloombox Club Jute baskets
Add some accessories
Finally, one of the perks of working from home is that you can make this area a bit more personal to you – with rugs, cushions and trinkets that suit your own tastes. Layer up some cosy bits and pieces and finish with some scented candles or a reed diffuser to create a relaxing vibe.
La Redoute Alma Cushion Cover
House by John Lewis Round Jersey Cushion
La Redoute Majari printed cotton cushion cover
Very Diamond Flatweave Rug
French Connection Small Poppy Field Rug
House by John Lewis Wall Clock
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
